Four of our faculty have been awarded the Ralph R. Teetor Engineering Educational Award; this is a national engineering educators award given by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Four of our faculty have been selected as the Engineering School Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year Award; this is based on teaching, research, and service. Three of our faculty have been awarded the University Faculty Achievement Award for teaching and scholarship; this is a University wide award. One of our faculty has been awarded the Elsie M. Hood Award; this award is in recognition of the most outstanding teacher in the entire University. Two of our faculty are HEADWAE (Higher Education Appreciation Day Working for Academic Excellence) award recipients; this award is given by the Mississippi State Legislature and recognizes outstanding faculty in the state. Also the ME department has two faculty members who are Frederick A.P. Barnard Distinguished Professors. One of our faculty has received the ASME Region XI Meritorous Service Award and another has received the ASME Region XI John 'Jack' A. Shortall Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award. Recently one of our ME faculty was awarded the first-ever Engineering School Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award.

As evidenced by the above credentials, our faculty have a first commitment to quality teaching which is balanced with a healthy participation in research. Another strength is the use and availability of good computer facilities in the ME department. Our program is strong in its emphasis on good written and verbal communication skills. The size of our program (smallness) gives us an opportunity to know our students on a first name basis. The small size of the classes is of tremendous advantage in the design and laboratory courses, although our enrollment could increase without sacrificing this advantage. The engineering science orientation of our program develops a student well-based in basic principles. Our students are educated for a long-term career in engineering.